Letters to Cyclingnews - August 12, 2005

Credibility from both sides?

My letter refers to this article - "EPO test called into question."

My favourite quote: "World-Anti-Doping Agency researchers in Germany are working on an improved version of the test." My question is why? WADA has taken the attitude that all their tests are rock-solid 100% reliable. Just ask Dick Pound. My guess if it wasn't for the research in Belgium, the WADA researchers wouldn't be working.

I'm confused as to why we (fans) always attack the credibility of athletes when we don't demand the same credibility from the testers. We seem to assume the athletes are all guilty, and the testers are all good guys out to protect the sport. What nonsense. As a fan, my expectation is that the testers are there to protect the sport. Truth be told, they let me down more than the athletes. The CAS finding in Mark French's case is a great example of what I'm talking about.

Along these lines, I'd like to see someone aggressively reporting about inconsistencies from the different testing bodies. It's fun to make clever comments about Rumsas' grandmother or Vandenbrouke's dog, but no one wants to make a clever comment when a dope test is found to be less than advertised.

I'll get off my soap-box now. Thanks.

Mike Gates

Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Thursday, August 04, 2005

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Zabel leaves T-Mobile

In response to Robert Gifford's question "Is it just me, or is Erik Zabel simply the epitome of class?", the answer is not by a long shot that it's just you Robert.

Erik's attitude, bearing, balanced world-view and thoughtful comment in both victory and defeat are indeed that of a true gentleman and sportsman. His presence in the professional peloton is one of contemporary cycling's real assets, and his influence on other riders he's worked alongside seems to run deep. Your description of Erik as a real 'gentleman' could apply to many of his team-mates, the most high-profile being Jan Ullrich; I don't doubt Erik being in-part responsible for that character existing in the ethos of T-Mobile/Telekom and indeed a great deal of German cycling. He will indeed be missed in magenta, but I cannot imagine anything but the best wishes for the man.

Every time a cheat, doper or tabloid drama hits our sport, I can always be sure to hear some old hand reference to Erik as a counter-point to the Hamilton, Millar or VDB story of the moment - and this on the other side of the world from where he plies his trade. I think cycling has needed that kind of counterweight worldwide, and Erik to German cycling has been what Sarah Ulmer has been to the sport here in New Zealand; bloody brilliant and a real role model.

Karl Kane

Wellington, New Zealand
Tuesday, August 9, 2005

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Zabel leaves T-Mobile #2

Reflecting the sentiments so aptly put by Robert Giffords, I heartily agree that Eric Zabel has been exemplary for the sport. Here is a man who races the whole season, and always consistently finishes well in practically every race he takes part in. So what if he never wins a sprint again. I for one, will continually look for him in the peloton. T-Mobile will regret letting him go.
Eric, if you read this, I wish you continued success in your new team and "Long May You Run".

Andrew Wong
Monday, August 8, 2005

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Zabel leaves T-Mobile #3

As for Erik Zabel being the epitome of class, I totally agree with the sentiment.

As much admiration as I had for him during his string of maillots verts at the Tour de France and his consistent top placings in the Classics, stage races and at Worlds, it's even greater now that he's maintained his respect for the fans and his genuine love for the sport of cycling into the later stages of his career.

Underlining this is his appearance in the film 'Hoellentour' ('Hell on Wheels'): forthright, humble and honest, especially after his mid-Tour crash which denied him another green jersey.

It's rare that we see such a sportsman, in the true sense of the word. He should be greatly appreciated not only by all who follow cycling but sports in general.

Dan Benson

Croydon , England
Friday, August 5, 2005

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Chris Horner

I'll back up all the previous positive messages for Chris Horner. I thought he has had an impressive showing in Europe so far this summer. It's too bad that he missed the Spring races with a broken hip. The stage win in Switzerland confirms that he has the talent that he showed in last year's Worlds and at Lombardy - I was also impressed by his ride in the Tour. A lot of riders go to the Tour and have a completely anonymous showing; you never see or hear of them. Horner was at the front or in breaks fairly consistently and also put in some good attacks. He came very close in his break with Chavanel, and his two lap breakaway in Paris was fun to watch. I look forward to seeing him in the Vuelta and the final events of the season.

Ferdinand Arcinue

Los Angeles
Thursday, August 11, 2005

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Ullrich's riding style

I agree with Rob Found: Ullrich has found a cadence/pedalling style that suits him. But in contrast to other riders, who have tried to improve their style, assisted by rather wise coaches and managers, Ullrich never tried to improve, read: change his style in the last couple of years. I am pretty sure that the enourmous power his body can put out on a bike could be used in a more efficient way. A way that would make him win.

A lot about Ullrich's training remains largely unknown and he is rather on his own with Pevenage, and team management hasn't much influence on his training (they also state, e.g. Ludwig, that they don't want to have influence and think freedom works best for him).

I am pretty sure that he would do with another trainer that is more demanding, asking for constant improvements. And Pevenage, to all I can judge from articles and news, is not that guy. So, he's won his comfortable riding style, but it may not be the best.

Besides his riding style, I think he could also do better in terms of mental attitude. Read his statements over the last couple of years. He always says "I want to win, I want to win." You've got to wonder just how much he does.

Felix
Monday, August 8, 2005

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Well done Wayne!

Wayne,

I am sitting somewhere in China and have read your letter and that you are again making 35km a day. What you have done, what you do and what you will be doing in the future is impressive. I just want to let you know that I am glad for you and want to thank you for sharing your story with us.

Enjoy doing 45km daily in the near future! Keep us posted on your progress. Best wishes from Beijing.

Felix
Monday, August 8, 2005

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Armstrong and class

I hate to augment further the discussion of Armstrong versus Merckx, but I felt I ought to respond to Jon Alvarez's claim that "In [Merckx's] time, EVERYONE raced everthing. He beat the same guys in the classics as he did in the grand tours." Not quite. While it is true that cyclists in the '70s didn't have the luxury of pinpointing only a few races during the year, riders still had strongly discernible specialties, like they do today. Merckx was not worrying about De Vlaeminck or Godefroot for the overall in the Tour, and he had nothing to fear from Ocana or Zoetemelk in the classics.

When Anquetil won Liege in 1966, he did it to spite those who called him a stage-race specialist, but only ended up proving the rule by this exception. What still makes Merckx stand out was his ability to beat any specialist on any terrain. Armstrong developed from a classics rider into a stage racer, and Jalabert from a sprinter into a climber; Merckx could do it all in a single year. Only Hinault comes close.

That said, you're right that nobody today could take home the sheer number of wins that Merckx did, since they'd be up against much fresher riders in every race. A modern Merckx, I think, could dominate the TDF, but also beat the likes of Boogerd and Boonen on their on terrain once or twice a year. Last year, Damiano Cunego showed that he has the potential to do this. Perhaps he will live up to it in the future.

Joe Hoyt

USA
Friday, August 05, 2005

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Possible correlations

I believe that the 'correlations' that Mr. Weide alludes to are completely and utterly inaccurate. Steroid usage in professional baseball is far different than that in other sports. In cycling, you get a two-year suspension and a further two years omission from a Pro Tour team. Palmeiro got 10 days. I can feel the repercussions from across the continent.

Seriously though, if Hamilton is willing to fight his conviction as far as he has, then all the power to him. Palmerio and every other pro baseballer convicted of using steroids gets a slap on the wrist that doesn't even have time to get a little red before they are back on the field. So to deny it in MLB is one thing - you do it to save a little face in front of the fans. Tyler is trying to save his career. Big difference.

Pat Johnston

Powell River , BC , Canada
Thursday, August 4, 2005

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• July 29: Perspective, France and Lance's Legacy, Armstrong and class, Best Wishes to Louise, Levi's Diary, Heras through rose colored glasses, The King of July, Here we go again!, Treat Lance like the others, Tech, Lance Armstrong's time trial equation, Life begins at 30
• July 22: McEwen - villain to superhero, Underdogs and overdogs at the Tour, Big George, George Hincape, Hincapie's stage win, Cadel's Tour memory, What the fans would love to see, Is Godefroot really NOT the man?, A true classic, Phonak's poor sportsmanship, Phonak double standards, My new hero, Discovery Channel tactics, Lance Infomercial?, Treat Lance like the others, TdF sprint finishes, Leaky Gas?, Little black box
• July 15: The best seat in the house, Joseba Beloki, Message for Chris Horner, Treat Lance like the others, Lance Infomercial?, McEwen defense, Rail lines in the TdF, Ruse Discovered?, Discovery's unanimous breakdown, IS Jan really the man?, Cycling socks, Patrick Lefevre quit your whining, Armstrong and class, Leaky Gas?, TdF sprint finishes, Who is in charge of the UCI?, Tires and slippery roads, Response to the Vowels of Cycling, Little black box
• July 8: McEwen defends himself, Tires and slippery roads, Random test on Lance Armstrong, French Government dope controls, The Pro Tour and Grand Tours, Tour de France's early finish?, Here we go again!, Thank you, Ed Kriege, Lance Infomercial?, No, the other Merckx!, The Vowels of Cycling, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, Armstrong and class
• July 1: No, the other Merckx!, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, The Vowels of Cycling, Figures of merit - TdF tipping, Lance Infomercial?, Daily Terror, Sydney article, Why Michael Rogers will be awesome with T-Mobile, I love it!, MTB news, Twins
• June 24: Sydney article, Hit and run on cyclists - Australia's new blood sport?, Another fatal hit and run on Australian cyclists, How can Ullrich win the Tour?, Drop Verbruggen, The second American, When the Tour heads up, Droppin' the Kilo!, Kilo or no go, What is Michael Rogers thinking?, Rogers to T-Mobile, For the love of god don't do it Mick!, The first yellow jersey, Horner Impressive, Leave T-Mobile/Fassa Bortolo, renew your career!, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse, Bobby Julich, Daily Terror, Hell on Wheels review
• June 17: Droppin' the Kilo!, Killing the kilo and 500, The kilo, Axing the Kilo?, The track Time Trials, The first yellow jersey, Armstrong and Class, The year of the comeback, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse
• June 10: The year of the comeback, An open letter to Cadel Evans, How Ullrich can win the Tour, USPRO/Liberty, Lance, the Tour and the Giro, Lance and the Tour, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Armstrong and Class, Ivan's training ride, Giro comments
• June 3: Giro comments, Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Ivan Basso, Ivan's training ride, Discovering the future, Jose Rujano, Savoldelli vs Simoni, How Ullrich can win the Tour, Eddy Merckx Interview, Johan Bruyneel, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Improving Pro Tour Team Rankings, Lance and the Tour, Armstrong and class
• May 27: Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Great Giro!, Double or nothing..., Colle delle Finestre and a Cipo farewell, Joseba Beloki, Ivan's training ride, Hell on Wheels, Matt Wittig, How Ullrich can win the Tour, UCI fines, Armstrong and class, Eddy Merckx Interview, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, You have let us down Paolo
• May 20: Colle delle Finestre tactics, Rogues, It just keeps happening, Davis Phinney, Joseba Beloki, Australia - number one, You have let us down Paolo, Bettini/Cooke, What's up with pro cyclists these days?, Cipo, Cipo, Cipo, A question about team names, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!
• May 13: Hit and run, Bettini vs Cooke, Bettini's Illegal sprint, You have let us down Paolo, Giro, Bettini/Cooke, Cookie's crumble, Bjarne's right: There's only one Jens Voigt!, Jens Voigt and the blind, South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, It just keeps happening, Liberty Seguros, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!, Australia - number one, Irresistible in July, UCI weight rule
• May 6: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 29: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 22: Lance Armstrong's retirement, W is for Witchhunt, Tyler's mishandling defense, Not for real, is it?, Bad Science, Blood testing issues, Hamilton - finally a decision, Regarding the Tyler Hamilton decision, Tyler Hamilton, Satisfying Verdict for Hamilton Case, How do dopers live with themselves?, Hamilton's case, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton, Hamilton verdict and a call for outside expertise, Tyler Hamilton saga..., Tour de France preview...2006!, Klöden comments, Tour de France Training, The New Dynamic Duo, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono, Random Musings
• April 15: Glenn Wilkinson, USADA and Hamilton, Bergman; so sad, ProTour leader's jersey, That's a Jersey?, Too many chiefs?, Track World Championships, What do you think?
• April 8: The New Dynamic Duo, Boonen's Hairdo, Viral infections and antibiotics, George Hincapie, What do you think?, Track World Championships, VDB?, A little bit more about blood doping, Blood testing issues
• April 1: Well done Ale-jet, Eyes of tigers..., Viral infections and antibiotics, Let's talk about cycling…, What's worth talking about in cycling?, First Ride of the season, The New Dynamic Duo, Blood testing issues, Sydney Thousand, UCI Pro Tour Grand Theft, not Grand Tour
• March 18: The Forgotten Hero!, Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance getting soft?
• March 11: Blood testing issues and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of the tiger"
• March 4: In Defence of the Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened
• February 25: Lance Defends His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!, Dream on
• February 18: Build it and tear it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!
• February 11: One Reason I Love Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time
• February 4: F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: Death of Dmitri Neliubin, Der Kaiser’s goals, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Who's Greater? Come on now!, Virenque "most charismatic"?, Downhilling, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, No flat tyres, Spring classics trip advice, Bettini's trainer
• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• November 26 letters - Mark French and homeopathy, Two big guns in one team, Tyler Hamilton case, Bartoli's retirement, Dave Fuentes, Shane Perkins, Merckx and Armstrong, Training like Lance, Lance Armstrong, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Phonak gets what it deserves, Armstrong and Simeoni, Bike weight, Spouseless riders, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig, Mark Webber interview, Santa vs Hairy Guy
• November 19 letters - Tyler Hamilton case, Phonak gets what it deserves, Are you there Mr Coates?, Bike Weight, Merckx and Maertens make up, Heart troubles, Where to find cycling spouses, Mark Webber interview, Lance Armstrong, Where's Greg?, What ever happened to..., Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, Still Laughing
• November 12 letters - Why Armstrong will ride the 2005 Tour, Scott Sunderland, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, Where to find cycling spouses, Lance on Italian selection, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Tour 2005 team time trial, What ever happened to..., Love and a yellow bike
• November 5 letters - Love and a yellow bike, Tour 2005, Where to find cycling spouses, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Simeoni, Tour of Southland, Construction technique for veloway, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Rahsaan Bahati
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